Maharashtra Waqf board to link rent with ready reckoner rates

AURANGABAD: The Maharashtra State Board of Waqf has decided to take over the affairs of two waqf institutions -- Tajuddin Baba Darga and Sailani Baba Dargah trusts for better management.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the board here, said M M Shaikh, the board chairman, on Monday.

“To increase revenue, we have decided to increase the rent of waqf properties. Now, tenants would have to pay according to the ready reckoner rates. Most of these tenants have been paying meagre rents while running their establishments on prime waqf properties. The increase in rent would help the board generate funds which could be used for social welfare of the community,” he said.

Shaikh said the board discussed 80 important issues and took major decisions involving the affairs of the waqf board.

The meeting has approved a proposal to be sent to the state government for recruitment of 70 personnel on various positions. Currently, the board that on record owns 92,000 acres of land across the state, has a staff of 40 people. The proposal would be submitted to the government soon, he said.

“We have also decided to strengthen six regional offices in the state, which would have at least one officer, clerk and peon each,” he said. The meeting has also decided to appoint six people on compassionate grounds.

Shaikh said the meeting has increased the remuneration of ‘pesh-imams’ of 70 mosques, which are directly under its purview, from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000. The remuneration for ‘muezzin’ (who give calls for prayer) has been increased to Rs 8,000 from Rs 3,000.

Shaikh said the state government has issued a government resolution on April 13, last year, according to which a survey of property has been launched in Parbhani and Pune districts on pilot basis. “The government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the job. This would help identify encroachments on waqf properties. We would take back the properties even if they were sold by the ‘mutwallis’ (caretakers). We would also get tougher with those who have made encroachments on waqf properties,” said Shaikh.

He said currently, the affairs of the ‘panchakki’, the water mill in Aurangabad are being handled by the waqf board and four persons were appointed to look after the water mill. However, the board has decided to issue a tender seeking to privatize the collection of charges from visitors so that these four persons could be used elsewhere.